Tag: time management

Keys to Writing a Quality Inspection Report

January 19, 2021

For potential buyers, an inspection report is a crucial part of the process, a sort of roadmap of the property that allows them to make a confident investment decision. That’s why it’s important to make sure you turn over a thorough, well-written report for your clients to review. As you write your inspection report, keep these techniques in mind to create the best experience for your clients. Review Your Notes Rushing anything tends to result in a less-than-polished look, and that applies to writing your reports. Especially when you’re just starting out, it’s important not to worry about hurrying through a property to get to your next inspection. Small typos and larger errors call into question your professionalism as an inspector. With enough practice, you’ll fine-tune your writing and hone your skill so that you’re able to complete reports more quickly. Making your report easy to follow will help your customers better understand their purchase and resolve any doubts they might have. Get Acquainted With Your Software Every inspection writing software is different and has its own unique features. As updates and changes are implemented, it’s essential that you get yourself acquainted with them. When using a tablet, it’s easy

Why Downtime Can Benefit You and Your Business

September 8, 2020

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist It’s no secret: running your own business can get hectic, especially during busy season. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the task of prioritizing all that needs completed each day, especially when so many things are equally important. Then, before you know it, despite your best efforts to stay ahead, you can quickly fall behind on work. So what can you do to help yourself not just accomplish necessary tasks, but exceed your own expectations? Schedule daily downtime. If you’re so focused on the daily grind that you literally need a downtime tutorial, we get it. And we have you covered. The Benefits of Pre-Planned Downtime While there are benefits to experiencing unexpected downtime, it can still be a headache to deal with. That is why having a pre-planned downtime is a better choice, so that you can prepare ahead of time. Daily downtime is a great way to keep you from expending all your energy, and helps you get through the day. You can refocus your attention on your business and you’ll feel more motivated. You’ll be able to get caught up on all those little projects you’ve been putting off,

5 Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

October 2, 2019

By Stepha Vesper It takes a special kind of person to be an entrepreneur. They’re driven, brave, curious and committed to their own growth. But what does a typical day look like for a successful small business owner? And what’s their mindset like? Below are five habits that successful business owners seem to all have in common. 1. They keep a regular schedule.Successful entrepreneurs keep themselves accountable by sticking to a daily schedule. But they don’t just keep that schedule to work-related tasks. They’re not afraid to pencil in time for socializing, relaxation and exercise, too, taking care to get professional responsibilities out of the way before scheduling recreation time. This balanced approach helps improve health and wellbeing, and in turn, business growth. 2. They stay flexible.A willingness to roll with the punches instead of balking at change or getting stuck in a certain mindset is crucial when you’re managing a business. Things can switch direction at any time, and flexible business owners know this can be sink or swim. The entrepreneurs that are willing to step out of their comfort zone and meet challenges are the ones that stay afloat in the long-run. 3. They get a good night’s

Mastering the Art of Delegation

July 17, 2019

By Zach Vesper As a small business owner, sometimes it’s hard to hand responsibilities to your employees. After all, you built your business by yourself and know what works and what doesn’t. As your business develops, though, you’ll reach a point where handling everything yourself doesn’t make sense any more, and can even stifle future growth. It’s one thing to understand this, but learning how to delegate effectively is something else. Here are 5 things to keep in mind when assigning tasks to your employees. 1. Be mindful of the tasks you’re assigning.Through thoughtful delegation of tasks, you and your employees can all accomplish more to push your business to the next level. Take stock of the things you do on a daily basis and determine whether these tasks are making the most of your skills and experience (you need to be very honest with yourself here). If not, these are perfect opportunities for delegation to someone with a different, more applicable skill set. And since you don’t want “delegation” to be a task unto itself, make sure to build it into your current workflows with a solid project management plan. 2. Be an educator.This may seem counterintuitive, but sometimes

Our Top 5 Time Management Tips

June 3, 2019

By Stepha Vesper When you’re out inspecting a home or business for clients, your time is practically managed for you. You have your set routine in place for inspecting and reporting and it usually takes a fairly predictable amount of time to complete. But what about time outside your day-to-day inspection schedule? Or weekdays when you may not have an inspection at all? Time management is among the top challenges small business owners face. There’s always so much to do, and you probably feel the pressure to do it all . . . and more! While it’s up to you what tasks you prioritize, we’re here to help you buckle down and get those tasks done. Follow these tips to make the most of your time and have more left over for summer fun with family and friends. 1. Actually decide what your priorities are. Keeping yourself busy is easy as a small business owner. Prioritizing is a different story. With a full plate, it can be challenging to determine the tasks that matter most. Start easy: which tasks on your list will have the most direct impact on your bottom line? Which will help you advance toward your goals

5 Ways of Looking at Self-Discipline

April 4, 2019

By Stepha Vesper Let’s talk about discipline. Self-discipline is a major factor in running a successful small business, but most of us have the wrong idea about it. And no, it’s not that we’re too lax on the concept. In reality, lots of widespread beliefs about discipline are too strict. So strict, in fact, as to be demotivating—we simply try to do and be too much until we shut down and accomplish less than we’re capable of. As you strive to hone your day-to-day business operations, keep these things in mind: 1. Self-discipline isn’t the only ingredient for success.While it’s undeniable that self-discipline is pretty important for achieving success, it’s not going to get you far unless you pair it with that all-important driving force, motivation. You can be the most self-disciplined person in the world, but without clearly defined goals, you’re just going to spin your wheels. To accomplish something big, you need to identify an objective and work diligently toward it through—you guessed it—self-discipline. 2. Discipline and willpower are not one and the same.Self-discipline and willpower are so entwined, it can be difficult to distinguish the two. But taking the time to understand the key differences might just

How to Make Time for Social Media

February 28, 2019

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist As a small business owner, you probably feel pretty rushed. You want to be sure that anything you do will be worth it in the long-run so your business can thrive. We can tell you with confidence that social media is definitely worth the manpower, but how can you allocate that priceless commodity, time? Here’s where to start. Take a look at your task list.If you’re trying to make time for anything, it only makes sense to take a look at what you’re actually doing over the course of your day. Now is a good time to create a list of tasks you already do, from the moment you wake up till the moment you quit work for the day. Be sure not to leave anything out! Now that you’ve made a list, take a close look at it. What items on your list absolutely have to be done every day? What items have flexibility? What items are you just not sure about in terms of long-term success? What items aren’t helping you reach your goals at all? Once you have a definitive list of must-do tasks, you have a great place

What Does It Mean to Reach Your Goals?

January 16, 2019

By Kimberly Stevens If you’re researching franchise opportunities, there’s likely some aspect of your life that you’re looking to improve. Whether it’s work-life balance, dissatisfaction with your current employer or a desire to learn a new skill, you’re ready to pursue a different path. But what does going for your goals actually look like? Here are our best tips for facing the challenges that come with stepping out of your comfort zone and moving toward a life you can live with passion. Embrace the intimidating moments.As humans, anytime we step outside our comfort zone, we instantly want to leap right back into it. For better or worse, it’s just the way we’re wired. This doesn’t mean that our instincts are insurmountable, it just means that doing anything new, like pursuing a new career, is going to take mindfulness and an extra shot of courage. We won’t beat around the bush: you’ll probably experience several intimidating moments as you prepare to start your new business. Pushing through means understanding that it’s all part of the process and trusting that the rewards are far more satisfying than the challenges are scary. Love your family and friends.We often use the word, “venturing,” when

Why You Should Consider Using a Call Center

August 21, 2018

By Zach Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & SEO Specialist This might seem like a familiar situation: you’re out on an inspection, and while talking to your client, your business phone rings. Now you have a dilemma—do you risk looking unprofessional by stepping away from your client to take the phone call, or do you ignore it and hope they leave a voicemail? If this happens often for you, there’s a simple solution: making use of a call center. Call centers can make your inspection business run more smoothly while delivering a host of other benefits, too. 1. You’ll stop missing phone calls.Imagine never having to be in that difficult situation again. Using a call center to answer calls to your business and book inspections allows you to give your full attention to each client, all while ensuring you don’t lose out on future inspections. Here’s a statistic that should worry any small business owner: of all the people who call your business and can’t get through, 85 percent won’t call back, and 75 percent of those people won’t leave a message. Instead, they’ll just move on to the next company, which is likely your direct competition. The bottom line is

4 Quick Tips for Making the Most of Small Business Social Media

November 28, 2017

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist As a busy small business owner, it’s easy to let social media slip off your radar. But with consumers spending up to 53% of their online time browsing social media sites, carving out a slot in your schedule for posting can mean broadening your reach in ways you never thought possible. Here are a few tips for making time for social media and getting the most from your efforts. 1. Automate your posts.Using a platform that allows you to schedule your posts in advance can be a lifesaver when it comes to making time for social media. Setting aside an hour every weekend to schedule your weekly posts across all social media sites is a great way to make sure that the job gets done, even during your busiest weeks. NPI recommends SocialPilot for its affordability and ease of use. Like all great things, scheduling posts in advance can have its drawbacks. Here are a few things to consider: 2. Spend time online where it counts the most.Chances are that not every social media platform is going to be the perfect fit for your business. For example, you may find that Twitter

Family-Owned Business: How to Work With and Manage Family Employees

April 23, 2024

When entrepreneurs start a new business, they’re looking for ways to really hit the ground running and hasten their growth. In the inspection industry, that early grind can be difficult to navigate alone, which is why we constantly see family members step up to offer a helping hand. Whether it’s as a marketer, a bookkeeper, or another pair of hands on an inspection, it can be a great benefit to partner with a spouse, sibling, in-law, or child early on who can offer a bit more flexibility than a typical employee. Family members can be an asset to businesses after seeing some growth as well, once extra help is needed to handle increased demand. Whatever the situation, the opportunity to hire family will likely come up at some point as a business owner, but some might not be prepared for the complex factors that go into this unique dynamic. From the vantage point of home inspection franchisors, we’ve seen family members work extremely well as employees, and we’ve also seen situations where it hasn’t gone so well. If you’re thinking about starting or expanding your business with a family member, here are some things to consider so that you can

Do Women Make Good Home Inspectors? Insights From Females in the Industry

April 9, 2024

March is International Women’s Month, and we’re taking a moment to celebrate a few of our amazing female inspectors who are helping transform the industry. We had a chance to ask them all about their experience, from what it’s like to work in a male-dominated field to what they love most about completing inspections and helping clients. Get to know Savannah Guenther, Ashley Brown, and Susan D’Andrea, and be sure to give them a shoutout if you see them around. Thank you for sharing, ladies – keep up the brilliant work! Q: As a female inspector, what are some unique benefits or challenges that you face in our industry? How do you overcome them?Savannah: I would say that one unique benefit is being able to help female REALTORs who may be working an open house or event by themselves feel more comfortable. Women feel a bit more at ease with another woman one-on-one than they might with a man they may not know very well. I’ve found that we can have an easy conversation; they’re inclined to share more about their work and background, and they’re more open to listening to what I have to say. The challenges of working

How to Overcome Being Told “No” as an Entrepreneur

March 12, 2024

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach The most successful entrepreneurs are self-motivated, innovative, and ambitious. Their minds are focused on expanding their services, broadening their territories, and putting a stamp on their industry that will effect positive change. New business owners rarely imagine hearing the word, “No.” But the hard truth is, rejection in any sales endeavor is inevitable, and it will happen more often than many expect. Every small business owner needs to develop sales skills if they want to achieve their aspirations, and the first (and maybe most important) sales skill to learn is how to handle the word, “No.” To get started on becoming a salesperson extraordinaire, here are a few truths to keep in mind! Understand What “No” Really Means in SalesOften, when people face rejection after giving a “sales pitch,” it can be natural to take that rejection personally. But in reality, rejection is almost never personal. In sales, a “no” can mean many different things, and this is only rarely related to your delivery. Here are a few common translations for the word, “no,” in sales: “I don’t understand.”The first common translation for an unsuccessful pitch is that the concept of

Print Marketing 101: 6 Types of Marketing Collateral and When to Use Them

March 5, 2024

By Melisa Rana, NPI, Inc.’s Graphic Designer Across industries, experienced marketers know how important it is to practice omni-channel marketing to find success and grow consistently. This means finding your audience wherever they are and delivering your message to them in many different ways. Businesses that rely only on digital marketing will begin to feel impersonal and distant, while marketers who focus solely on in-person interactions spread themselves too thin and miss out on opportunities to stay top of mind. The most effective marketing plans employ multiple campaigns and various diverse strategies to foster business, ongoing referrals, and loyalty with their key customers. Because of this, no business should expect to reach their long-term goals consistently without a selection of well-designed, attention-grabbing marketing collateral. From posters to brochures, flyers, and door hangers, it can sometimes feel like there is an endless list of potential physical marketing materials to invest in. But to achieve the best possible return on investment, it’s important to understand how each material differs and in which situations they excel. With all that said, let’s discuss some of the most popular and effective print marketing materials, and when to use them! Brochures Pack a Big Punch in

From Startups to Industry Veterans: Why You Should Write A Business Plan

February 27, 2024

By Sammi Marcellus, NPI, Inc.’s Recruitment Coordinator When launching a new business, entrepreneurs embark on a demanding journey, defining goals, charting growth plans, and strategizing execution. A business plan condenses these key elements into a streamlined document for investors to assess. While securing funding often necessitates a business plan, even established businesses benefit from revisiting and updating theirs. Let’s delve into what a business plan is, how to write one, and how each section empowers seasoned entrepreneurs to achieve their ambitions. Understanding the Business PlanThe format of a business plan varies depending on its purpose. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), a valuable resource for new business owners seeking funding, outlines two main types: Lean Startup Plan: This concise, one- or two-page document provides a bird’s eye view of a business’s purpose and goals. It might not suffice for securing funding, but serves as a vital tool for entrepreneurs to revisit their goals and adapt their strategies as needed. Traditional Business Plan: This comprehensive document dives deep into each facet of the proposed business. While requiring more effort, the detailed information and commitment to crafting it instill confidence in investors and provides clear direction for the entrepreneur. Notably, the information

National Property Inspections, Inc. is Now Part of the Co-operators Family

February 20, 2024

We at National Property Inspections, Inc. are proud to announce our organization, along with Carson Dunlop, have been acquired by Co-operators Group Limited. With aligned goals of serving homeowners and communities, NPI is excited for this expanded reach throughout North America and the opportunity to further innovate the property inspection industry. “In Co-operators, we have found an ideal partner that brings a wealth of experience, relationships, and resources to drive growth and long-term value for our stakeholders. Our core values are in sync, and Co-operators’ long-term vision uniquely positions us to effectively scale our network and help us live our purpose: to better the lives of homeowners.” – Craig Rowsell, CEO of Carson Dunlop and National Property Inspections, Inc. Co-operators was originally founded to provide coverage for farmers who couldn’t find protection elsewhere. Today, the organization has grown to become one of Canada’s leading financial services cooperatives, with a focus on multi-line insurance, wealth management, and brokerage operations. With Co-operators, National Property Inspections, Inc. and Carson Dunlop are looking forward to continuing our mission in serving homeowners and investors throughout their post-purchase story, with Honesty, Integrity, and Professionalism. Combining our commitment to keeping homeowners informed with Co-operators’ assistance to families

Boosting Conversions and Improving ROI with Call Tracking

February 13, 2024

By Sydney Bailey, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Director As small businesses grow, marketing often becomes a more complex endeavor with leads flowing in from many different campaigns and platforms. To find out whether a marketing campaign is cost effective, it’s crucial to track the cost for each lead and each conversion—but how is this tracking accomplished? For digital marketing, tracking a lead is fairly straightforward. Thanks to cookies and analytics, businesses can know which marketing campaign a lead interacted with to land on their website. But other lead generation avenues aren’t so simple. Many customers still prefer to call service-based businesses to gather more information before making their final decision. Learning how to convert a lead over the phone is an art in itself, but it can be difficult to quantify a lead’s analytics from a phone call. For entrepreneurs that receive a lot of their business through inbound phone calls, capturing valuable information about which marketing campaigns are pulling their weight—and which ones aren’t—can be tough, but it’s essential when it comes to optimizing an advertising budget. Today, let’s discuss the best solution to this issue: call tracking. What is Call Tracking, and How Does It Work?Call tracking helps determine

Franchise Financing: Starting a Small Business with an SBA Loan

February 6, 2024

By Sammi Marcellus, NPI, Inc.’s Recruitment Coordinator Every great journey starts with the right tools, and for most entrepreneurs, that key tool is financing. While self-starting hustle and innovation are essential, even the best business plan can stall without capital. This is where SBA loans come in. Acquiring a loan through the SBA can be a great option for small business owners looking for that initial capital needed to franchise or otherwise start their business venture. To better understand if an SBA loan is right for you, let’s discuss some of the essentials. What is an SBA loan?An SBA loan is a specialized loan provided by partners of the US Small Business Administration. For entrepreneurs that have exhausted other options, an SBA loan can be the answer they’ve been looking for to cover the early costs needed to start a new business or expand their business. SBA loans are a great option for many because of their lower rates and the option of long repayment periods, but not all SBA loans are the same. It’s also not a guarantee that everyone gets approved for their desired loan. SBA loans vary from person to person in part because the SBA doesn’t